Children among at least 25 killed in Cabo Verde bus crash

At least 25 people, predominantly children and teenagers, lost their lives in a bus accident on Cabo Verde's Fogo Island, according to public radio network RCV on Sunday. Several others sustained injuries, some severe, as reported by Jose Canuto, the head of civil protection for Sao Filipe city, speaking to journalists. Such incidents are uncommon in the West African archipelago, where roads are typically well-maintained.

Canuto, alongside other local officials, stated that the bus, transporting 32 passengers, lost control, veering off the road and falling into a deep ravine on its return journey to Sao Filipe following an excursion to the Cha das Caldeiras village situated within the Pico do Fogo volcanic crater. The deceased include the bus driver, who had organized the excursion annually to provide pupils with a special treat as he transported them to school during the school term.

Emergency responders labored throughout the night to extract victims trapped in the wreckage, which came to a halt in a rugged valley that is difficult to access. Seven individuals were initially buried on Sunday morning, with the remainder scheduled to be interred later in the day, as per RCV.